NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 280, 26 June 1860, Page 3

NATIVE AFFAIRS.

The serious aspec); bf.affairs in New Zealand is but the fulfilment of the prognostics of ttyose who originally opposed the settlenien£ of the colony. There are, however, events f&stilting from a succession of causes which, if singly they involve a personal responsibility, are, taken together, beyond human control. The lawless character of many who first.sat down in that country, and filled it with their crimes; the settlement of others who demanded the protection of regular Government; the progress of civilization among the natives, which made it necessary to recognise them as an independant nation, or to treat them as subjects of the Crown; the projects of French colonisation, which reduced us to the short question of " Now or never "—these causes all combined to force on England the assertion of Imperial authority, and the acceptance of duties which.it is now impossible to relinquish. It is said that the natives were never subdued, and never felt themselves subjects. But we question if an example will ba found Stnoftg aborigines of so early and extensive comprehensions ofthe relations between themselves and the white settlers. If we compare the story of the North Am^ricanllndianS' with the history of the natives of Ne* Zealand, as neighbors or subjects, the comparison will be greatly to the advantage of the latter. They have shown themselves far less prone to treachery. The Indian, notwithstanding the high-flown imaginery in which he expressed his ideas, showed himself incapable of learning aught but the vices ofthe settlers. He moved with the subtlety of a serpent, and too often with the cruelty of a beast of prey. Except in isolated instances, the natives of New Zealand have|j shown themselves as chivalrous as they are brave. It is to their superior qualities that we prabably owe the present difficulties. They have resisted the temptation of immediate advantage in a spirit of nationality. The danger they have perceived really exists; the force of the tide of British population threatens them with social inferiority as tribes, and destruction as a people. We think no worse of our British ancestors because they were jealous of the Roman settlers, and, resisted a foreign yoke; and the New Zealanders are entitled to the consideration due to the sentiment, although misdirected, which all peoples have held to be essential to the strength and honor of a nation. It is not likely, however, that recant settlers of New Zealand will favor this view ofthe spirit which is at the bottom of this calamitous affair. Its effect to them is to waste their substance and to imperil their lives/ Thty are impatient of everything which rtcognises in the native chiefs, or their followers anything but enemies to be shot down. Thus we find sneers at their drift shins I and contempt for them as mere savages. The movements of Bishop Selwyn and his clergy are deemed all but criminal^.'because thiy contemplate a reconciliation between the hostile races. . Signal, speedy, vengeance is the cry of" men who profess to represent the opinion of the colonists. IVe have no doubt, however, that a more correct judgment is formed by thon who are anxious for a peaceful solution. If war prolongs itself, it matters little what may be its military issue, the colonies within its circle will be in danger of destruction. The natives will meanwhile abandon the restraints imposed upon them by the influence ofthe clergy, and probably forfeit all their claims to consideration. In wars which are necessarily desultory the eicaspiration becomes blind and in tease. It hno new thing, however, for clergymen to interfere in the native wars. The,natives in the freshness of their faith are disposed to listen with respect to the advice of their missionaries. We see no reason to suppose that Bishop Selwyn would weaken the authority of the Government by his efforts to terminate a struggle in which really nothing is to be gained but bloodshed. If peace can be secured, the growth of colonisation will soon render the natives powerless; they will every year become less^able to assist, and will at no very remot^ period abandon the idea of resistan^Jc If, however, peace cannot be made, pftres&ems leas chance than heretofore of conquering it. The natives can retire to their fatnesses, and hold the lowlands in continual terror*

The great force now collected in New Zealand, and the little success hitherto recorded, seem to have increased the discontent and distrust of the colonists. .We gather, howwer, from all the information that haa reached us, that the war is attended with special difficulties. It is obvious. Shat, gave in artillery, the natives have every, advantage on their side. Their eonntry is remarkable for its natural facilities for defence. They know every winding; they can repair their losses—save of men—without delay; they can choose their own time to; fight; thus, unless by ■ome imprudence on the part of their chiefs, they may be able to inflict great mischief by indefinitely protracting the war. It is indeed not impossible that the. self-confi-dence and ostentation, so natural to aborigines, may teduce them from that war of posts which alone gives achanCe of success. .■■'•''

There can be no doubt what ought to be the course of .Government—to get the war terminated as soon as possible. No glory can; result from contending with such an enemy, andthus anything that will secura a satisfactory peace is surely to be embraced. she' Government will be-in a better position hereafter' W dope -with nativb jealousy and discojnttht. The .bad terms which 'Subsist between the civilians and the military is the worst feature in the affair.. No one, hdwever, could blame the officer in command for putting a stop to newspaper criticisms, which were, in reality, an initructiap to the natives to attack the unguarded post*. We laney, if ever a cen-

sorship ought, in interest of the common safety, to watch over the Press, it must be during active warfare, at the very seat of war.

We deeply sympathise without' fellowcountrymen in their, trying position. We ought to do everything in our power to strengthen.their hands during this crisis of their national life.

In the opinion of many the trial will call out qualities which never show themselves in a country to which danger and valor are unknown. This can only: happen . where there is a due regard to the laws of war, and to the rights of humanity. No people were eyer improved by civil convulsions, or by engaging con amore, in a war of extermination.

Perhaps this war may enable the Government to settle the question of land on a more satisfactory basis—land, that grand cause of strife in all countries. There can be no peace when the law is in conflict with the policy of the Government. There can be but one sovereign, and she must possess the right to hold, for the benefit of the State, all property not in the rightful possession of private subjects,— Sydney Morning Herald, June 8.

. Fric^y evening, June B.—l have been so fortunate as to obtain a slip of the Herald's journal to half-past four this afternoon. This contains alt the carefully guarded information received up to that hour. I have ju9t heard that the natives came down within a quarter of a mile of the camp at Waitara on Thursday, and danced the war dance, fired volleys,. &c. They have been engaged in plundering at the Bell Block, and are anxious to commence fighting.

I regret to learn that Mr. Brown's life is in danger; it is thought now that he will not recover.

The Provincial Treasurer, Mr. Thomas King, who has just been elected from the "General Assembly for the Grey and Bell district, returned from Auckland the other day, where he had been to get the pay of the militia and volunteers put on a better footing. He reports that His Excellency's advisers, while they admitted the hardships of the settlers, objected to make any change in present arrangements, until they had learned the issue of the Waikato meeting. That meeting has now terminated. Some 2000 fighting men were present, besides women and children. The Kawhia natives determined upon going to the assistance of Te Rangitake. McLean they would not listen i to. The Waikatos were unanimous for, the erection of the King's flag as a symbol of the complete establishment of the. Maori Kingdom. Dr. Selwyn who was present, upon this struck his tent and took his departure. In addition to the Bishop there were the Superintendent of Auckland, and the Reverends J. Buddie, Wallis, and Reid present. The Waikatos who tame down with the Taranaki deputation are still at Waitara, and it is feared that should any of them be killed the whole of the Waikatos will come down upon us.

Potatau is for peace, and so are a large number of the Waikatos, but still they are the most sincere advocates for the safe establishment of the Maori Kingdom.

There is not the slightest room for doubt that the results of this meeting are in every way unfavorable. In the first place they erected the flagstaff in spite of all objections ; in the second, they danced the war Viance in sympathy for their countrymen at Taranaki; and in the third, the whole of the Waikato natives appeared of one mind, including the monitors, on the subject of the King. They have resolved to let no land as runs to the European*, to stop the overland mail, and, if they can, to send the pakehas back to England.

The three colors on the new flag are intended to represent the eyes of New Zealand, viz., the north, the centre, and the south—-Ngapuhi, Waikato and Taranaki, and Wairarapa—or in other words the Maori Kingdom is to extend from Ngapuhi to Palliser Bay, including in its boundaries the whole of this Province and that of Hawke's Bay, and a large proportion of the Provinces of Auckland and Wellington. Tou will be surprised to learn that some dozen natives could plunder with impunity the houseß of the settlers, almost in the presence of a large force of militia and volunteers; but Colonel Gold, it is understood, has strict orders to act only on the defensive.

Pending the meeting of the.Assembly, or the arrival of troops from India, no offensive operations, will be permitted if they can be possibly obviated. But I question whether they can, as the rebels are getting stronger and more daring every day, and if we will not attack them, they will attack us, and that is just what we are desiring. It is now well.understood that it is the intention of the Governor, if supported by the General Assembly and r^jfceed from England or India, to put jflMP^reseut rebellion with a strong uand. This is what ought to have been done at first. Like cocks on their own; dung-hill, or boys at school, the Maories will not believe in the strength and courage of .us interlopers until they haye been fairly tested. The men who come in to part them do more harm than-good, they only prolong the strife —for fight it out they will, and no peace can be calculated upon until one or the other become^ acknowledged masters. It is strange that so obvious a matter should not have been sooner discovered—like the egg of Columbus it is easy to do when we bave once found out how it is done; but we require to be shown first.:, ■ When the :Maories once find out that we are their masters,' they will appreciate our forbearance and regret that they had not done bo before. We have allowed the

missionary, like a fond and foolish mother, to step between the combatants, which has excited the ire of both, without changing the disposition of either. This will no longer be allowed. This is our impression ■here,-" and that is the reason why we patiently endure . hardships and privations, which would otherwise be insupportable.— From the New Plymouth Correspondent of the Wellington AdvertiserZ'